System should do less harm than good

Published: Friday, May 23, 2003 at 10:23 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 23, 2003 at 10:42 a.m.

The issue: Juvenile Justice

We suggest: It's time for reform.

There is no question that Louisiana needs to reform its juvenile-justice system.

Reports over the years have detailed ill treatment in our state's juvenile facilities, indicating the state needs to rethink how it handles problem children. The Swanson Correctional Center for Youth-Madison Parish Unit at Tallulah is known nationwide for its history of violence, brutality and sexual abuse by guards and poor general conditions. Shocked by the prison's conditions, a state juvenile-court judge has ordered the removal of five teen-agers from the facility. Public hearings investigating the facility are being held in New Orleans.

The state Legislature is taking steps to remove all youths from the facility with two bills that have passed the Senate and are pending in the House. Senate Bill 963 removes all youths out of the Tallulah prison by June 2004. Senate Bill 957 calls for moving offending juveniles from the corrections department into a newly created department of Children, Youth and Families to take on the task of reforming children with problems.

The reform bill passed the Senate without opposition. The Tallulah bill had only one dissenter -- Sen. C.D. Jones, D-Monroe, within whose district the facility is located. Jones objected on the basis of the 300-some jobs that could be lost if the juvenile prison shuts down.

He seems to be the only senator thinking about putting jobs ahead of children's futures. That's understandable, considering those 300 workers are his constituents. But jobs should not be the overriding concern in this case.

Every other state senator realizes that incarcerating children in prisons only enhances the chance that they will embark on a life of crime as adults -- and at the very least, they deserve to be treated properly.

Louisiana has the second-highest rate of juvenile incarceration in the nation. But our system has proven that Louisiana's method of incarcerating juveniles does not work. We must try a different tack in regard to juvenile justice and rehabilitation. As soon as these measures are approved in the House and signed by the governor, Louisiana can start giving problem youths the second chance they need.

<p>The issue: Juvenile Justice</p><p>We suggest: It's time for reform.</p><p>There is no question that Louisiana needs to reform its juvenile-justice system.</p><p>Reports over the years have detailed ill treatment in our state's juvenile facilities, indicating the state needs to rethink how it handles problem children. The Swanson Correctional Center for Youth-Madison Parish Unit at Tallulah is known nationwide for its history of violence, brutality and sexual abuse by guards and poor general conditions. Shocked by the prison's conditions, a state juvenile-court judge has ordered the removal of five teen-agers from the facility. Public hearings investigating the facility are being held in New Orleans.</p><p>The state Legislature is taking steps to remove all youths from the facility with two bills that have passed the Senate and are pending in the House. Senate Bill 963 removes all youths out of the Tallulah prison by June 2004. Senate Bill 957 calls for moving offending juveniles from the corrections department into a newly created department of Children, Youth and Families to take on the task of reforming children with problems.</p><p>The reform bill passed the Senate without opposition. The Tallulah bill had only one dissenter -- Sen. C.D. Jones, D-Monroe, within whose district the facility is located. Jones objected on the basis of the 300-some jobs that could be lost if the juvenile prison shuts down.</p><p>He seems to be the only senator thinking about putting jobs ahead of children's futures. That's understandable, considering those 300 workers are his constituents. But jobs should not be the overriding concern in this case.</p><p>Every other state senator realizes that incarcerating children in prisons only enhances the chance that they will embark on a life of crime as adults -- and at the very least, they deserve to be treated properly.</p><p>Louisiana has the second-highest rate of juvenile incarceration in the nation. But our system has proven that Louisiana's method of incarcerating juveniles does not work. We must try a different tack in regard to juvenile justice and rehabilitation. As soon as these measures are approved in the House and signed by the governor, Louisiana can start giving problem youths the second chance they need.</p>